Healthcare is the maintenance or improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Healthcare is delivered by various practitioners such as physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dentists, pharmacists, midwives, psychologists, medical assistants, and other allied health professionals.
Healthcare systems are organizations established to meet the health needs of target populations. Healthcare systems vary in organization and funding, but all serve to meet the health needs of their populations.
Healthcare is a multidisciplinary field that involves the study of the biological, social, and environmental determinants of health and disease. It is important to understand the biological, social, and environmental factors that can influence health and disease and the ways in which healthcare systems can be organized to provide the best quality of care.
The delivery of healthcare services involves collaborating with many practitioners and organizations, including governments, hospitals, primary care providers, laboratories, and other healthcare providers. Healthcare systems must be organized to ensure that appropriate services are available and resources are used efficiently.